Are you facing the prospect of promoting a book? If you\u2019re writing one or have written one for publication, the answer is yes. Well, that is if you want to sell any copies of your book.<\/p>\n
Many new authors start out by trying to promote far and wide. They set their sights on big sales to major bookstores, exposure at gigantic book expos, reviews in important journals and so forth. This is okay, if you have a book that warrants this sort of attention. But it might not be the most sensible way to begin your promotional journey.<\/p>\n
For most new authors, I suggest easing into the world of book promotion. Begin the huge task of promotion close to home. The two most logical entries into the world of book marketing may be the Internet and your hometown. This probably doesn\u2019t surprise you\u2014everyone uses the Internet for everything these days. There are hundreds of reviewers hungry for good books to review and booksellers galore\u2014Amazon.com, of course, being the most well-known. You can build your own website to showcase your book, locate organizations and forums related to the theme\/genre of your book and get involved and so forth. You could easily spend hours each week locating and pursuing bookselling opportunities just on the Internet. <\/p>\n
Yes, most authors will turn to the Internet first, but there\u2019s another opportunity close by that authors may not take seriously enough. Their hometown.<\/p>\n
I like to urge my clients to seek out and pursue every promotional opportunity locally before launching out beyond their city limits with their books. There are oodles and gobs of venues, activities, events and other happenings all around your community that might result in book sales and exposure, and people who can and will assist you. Not only will you sell books by pouring your efforts into promoting locally, but you will learn a lot about how to handle book promotion outside of your comfort zone. Consider this a training ground for soliciting higher sales in larger cities.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow, I\u2019ll write about how to start your local book tour. In the meantime, if you haven\u2019t read my book, \u201cPromote Your Book,\u201d this would be a good time to purchase it. This book includes information about how to promote locally as well as on the Internet. In fact, it is jam-packed with over 250 book promotion ideas\u2014most of them fleshed out so you can understand how to pursue them\u2014many of them enhanced by real examples and the majority of them free. Twenty-four authors and professionals participate in this book. It\u2019s the book you must have at your elbow throughout the writing and promoting processes. \u201cPromote Your Book,\u201d available in print, Kindle and audio at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores.<\/p>\n